Suriname Travel Facts

The Basics

Country: Suriname

Where is it?: Suriname is in northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana.

Why do people go here?: Suriname remains one of the obscure countries in South America where only few people travel. Those who do come head inland, into the jungle, to see the Marooons.

What are the main entry points?: Those few souls who come to Suriname generally fly into Paramaribo, which can be accessed by other countries around South America.

Currency used: Dollar

Country Code for Phones: 597

Religion: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%

Population: 500,000

Ethnic Breakdown: Hindustani (also known locally as “East Indians”; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15%, “Maroons” (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%

Government: Constitutional Democracy

Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese

Travel Information

Major Cities: Paramaribo

Attractions: Brownsberg Nature Park

Accomodation: None

Off-the-Beaten-Path: Tafelburg Nature Reserve

Health Issues: Malaria, Cholera, dengue fever, typhoid

When to go: June to December is the best time to visit.

Tips for Visiting

Cheapest airport to fly into: The cheapest airport to fly into Suriname is the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport.

Need more information?: Check out the Suriname travel guide for more on what to see, where to stay, and how to get there.